GM shared that it has appointed Sterling Anderson, former head of MIT’s Distributed Robotics Lab, as its new Chief Product Officer starting on June 2. Anderson will be responsible for guiding the entire product development process at GM. This position will further the company’s initiatives to modernize and electrify its vehicle platform. His deep experience in AVs and product development strategy makes him a logical centerpiece in GM’s digital pivot, one that is as ambitious as it is risky.
Anderson, who co-founded the autonomous vehicle company Aurora in 2017 and was Chief Product Officer there until this short-lived venture, โลโก้. Prior to his time at Aurora, he was the Director of Tesla’s Autopilot program. His experience in the electric vehicle industry and autonomous technology will be key. With Chair and CEO Mary Barra at the helm, GM will successfully steer through the rapidly changing automotive environment.
At GM, she will be in charge of some all-important departments. Kurt Kelty, head of battery propulsion and sustainability. Given his deep background in battery tech and such at Tesla, he’ll report straight to him. Anderson will be responsible for global manufacturing and the head of product engineering. He’ll oversee software and services, corporate management of vehicle product programs, safety, and vehicle integration. He will continue to report to GM President Mark Reuss.
Mary Barra was instrumental in attracting Anderson to GM. Her conversations painted the picture of what was possible in terms of innovation at the company, which allowed Anderson to see what kind of change could be most impactful.
“The scope of what we’ll do at GM is expansive,” – Sterling Anderson
Anderson’s appointment comes at a time when GM is striving to meet rising customer expectations regarding vehicle performance and technology. Reuss emphasized this sentiment, stating, “Our customers are expecting more from our vehicles than ever before.”
Anderson’s ideas for GM these days run beyond creating a slick user experience to making our roads safer. He expressed a commitment to creating “magical experiences in their vehicles that improve the safety and efficacy of our roadways.”
Anderson’s California home base is GM’s Mountain View Tech Center. His leadership is sure to drive major achievements in the company’s ongoing efforts for equity and inclusion. We’re encouraged to see GM taking bold moves on electrification and autonomous vehicle technology. His expertise will be key moving forward into the brand’s future direction.
